The Nadowli-Kaleo District houses some of the most intriguing tourist sites that offer adventure, historical lessons, African traditional religion, and traditional healings among others. The tourism potential in the district as opposed to the number of tourist recorded is low. Even though all tourist sites offer satisfaction, there are efforts by the District Assembly to upgrade these sites to national standards in order to attract tourism both locally and globally.
TOURIST SITES
OMBOWURA MOUNTAIN- OMBO
The Ombo Wura is located in Ombo. It is a very tall mountain which is of great historical and cultural significance to the people. The natives go there to do their cultural pacifications and ask for blessings, a good harvest, and financial assistance. The Wura is considered a protector of the community. It offers great adventure climbing the rounded mountain. On top of the mountain, one can have a great view of some nearby and distant communities in the upper west region. The top of the mountain offers large space for camping purposes. The mountain also serves as a pilgrim destination as it is believed to answer fervent prayer requests.
SANKANA CAVES- SANKANA
Sankana is a community located in the district, It is a historic community as it houses a network of scenic caves across an area of 4km. It is believed that during the slave trade era, the Sankana caves were a safe haven/hiding place for children, women and the aged. The male warriors used the rock formations as a strategic battlefield with their bows and arrows to shoot at slave raiders who had superior armour. The indigenes won battles against the Samori slave raiders.
It is believed that the caves had magical powers and could expand to contain more numbers of refuge seekers.
GUREE CROCODILE POND AT GUREE AND KALEO
Guree community is known for cohabitation with crocodiles for several decades. In Guree, you will have the pleasure of seeing unharmful crocodiles in ponds surrounded by trees in the community.
You will also be entertained with various cultural dances and playing of the xylophone.
This community is less than four kilometres away from Sombo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District
CLUSTER OF ANTHILLS (FALANTAN ANTHILLS AT NANVILLE
The cluster of anthills at Nanville in the Nadowli-Kaleo district is a mystery/wonder to visit as it offers tourists amazement of giant monuments (anthills) built by ants/termites which covers a land area of over fifty (20) acres. The site is considered sacred ground and historically saved their great-grandparents from Samori-Babatu slave raiders. When raiders beseeched their town, they run to the anthills and were invisible to the raiders though the natives could visibly see the raiders. The natives hid under the giant anthills to hide away from enemies. The sacred grounds are considered a place of refuge for community members in the area
ROYAL MAUSOLEUM
There are two Royal Mausoleums at Kaleo. They are Na-Mara and Degunii. History has it that the spot chosen as the Royal Mausoleum was based on the discovery of the necklace of a dead chief at the spot. With time a tree grew at the chosen spot.
Sombo Foot Prints
These are the footprints of a man and woman on a rock at Sombo. Oral tradition has it that the two were escaping from Samori and Babatu during the slave raids into the thick forest near the rock and when they stepped on the rocks to seek refuge in the forest, they left their footprints on it.
Duong Bone-setters Clinic
Duong is a village in the Nadowli District famous for the traditional treatment of broken bones and fractures. The treatment involves the use of the bark of a tree locally called “pumpungo” which is tied around the fracture and allowed to heal. The traditional bone setters are known for successfully treating fractures faster making them a preferred health destination in the Upper West Region.